831.01/11–2948
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Assistant Chief of the Division of North and West Coast Affairs (Krieg)
Subject: Request for Resumption of Relations with new Venezuelan Government
| Participants: | Señor Dr. Antonio Casas-Briceño, Counselor of Venezuelan Embassy |
| Mr. Paul C. Daniels, Director for ARA | |
| Mr. William L. Krieg, NWC |
Dr. Casas called by appointment on Mr. Daniels and informed him that Ambassador Carnevali1 had resigned because of the overthrow of the Gallegos Government, that the new government had accepted his resignation and had designated him (Casas) as Chargé d’Affaires. Mr. Daniels emphasized that he was receiving Dr. Casas in his unofficial capacity as a Venezuelan citizen and not as Chargé representing the new government. Dr. Casas said he understood this.
Dr. Casas then set forth the arguments advanced by the military to justify their coup d’état against the constitutional government of Venezuela. He said that everyone had a great deal of respect for President Gallegos but that Gallegos had proved incompetent to administer the government, administrative inefficiency had been very marked and there had been a great deal of graft. Dr. Casas said that the country had very little to show for the enormous expenditures of money in the past year.
In the light of these circumstances, the officers of the Venezuelan Army had felt it necessary to take back the power which they had voluntarily turned over to Acción Democrática after the October 1945 revolution. A military junta had been formed to exercise the powers of the presidency and a cabinet had been appointed by the junta composed [Page 132] partly of military men and partly of civilian technicians. Dr. Casas said the new cabinet contained many able men including Dr. Gomez Ruiz, the new Foreign Minister, and Dr. Rangel Lamus, Minister of Agriculture who had held the same post under López Contreras.2 He added that the situation was normal and that the change had been welcomed by a majority of the Venezuelan people.
Dr. Casas went on to say that the new government had promised to respect foreign lives and investments and to observe the international obligations of Venezuela. He added emphatically that there had been no foreign influence involved in the setting up of the new government.
In reply to questions regarding the probable foreign policy of the new government, Dr. Casas said he had received no official information but that he understood the junta would probably resume relations with the Franco Spanish Government. He said he did not know what the policy would be toward the Dominican Republic but thought the government would probably move slowly in this regard so as to avoid criticism.
Mr. Daniels then explained carefully to Dr. Casas the basis of this Government’s policy toward the continuity of diplomatic relations. He pointed out that the Inter-American System was the cornerstone of our national security and that the System obviously could not function properly if the various members did not maintain relations with each other. The Department therefore, he continued, is in favor of the principles set forth in Resolution 35 of the Bogotá Conference and wishes to place the question of maintenance of diplomatic relations on a firm basis entirely divorced from any consideration of the origin or composition of the respective governments. In these circumstances, then, the maintenance of diplomatic relations should not imply any judgment whatsoever, either favorable or unfavorable, on the governments involved.
Mr. Daniels went on to point out that the Bogotá Resolution does not provide any time schedule for resuming diplomatic relations and that it would be necessary to observe the development of events carefully in Caracas so as to take in consideration all factors before arriving at a decision. He concluded by expressing the desire to do everything possible on a personal basis to be of assistance.
As he was leaving the room Dr. Casas said he would furnish for the Department’s information copies of the proclamations issued by the new government. These have been received and are attached.3